We're spending billions in Iraq, billions in Afghanistan, billions in tax cuts that cater to the wealthy, so why not spend billions in space? Screw the fact that schools around this country could use extra funds, and screw the fact that the amount of money that is being spent could put a great number of Americans through college. Let's go to Mars...

Yep, personally I would love to see us return to the moon and eventually go to Mars. Great idea. I think there would be plenty of nifty inventions from it. I actually kind of like Bush more than others seem to, but I just can't see how it would be paid for at this time. To be honest I'd rather see the money go to things that Force Guy mentioned.

It's a bitchin idea don't get me wrong. I think NASA and other space agencies are actually better suited when it comes to going for stuff like manmed missions to the moon. They seem to get into that more than a space station or rovers IMO. Not that they are not already, but you would probably see more people want to get into science and such to rally behind a project like that instead of rovers and robots. There is a lot of benefit that could come from this. But I don't think now is the time. Someone could change my mind though

You know, it would be cool to see another moonwalk televised and all - since the government's special effects department has improved so much since the 70's.

Ah, the Capricorn One syndrome.

So its laid out.

BUSH SPACE INITIATIVE •Spend $12 billion on new space exploration plan over next five years. $1bn will be new money, the rest reallocated from existing NASA programs.•Retire shuttle program by 2010•Develop new manned exploration vehicle•Launch manned mission to moon between 2015 and 2020•Build permanent lunar base as "stepping stone" for more ambitious missions•Complete commitments to International Space Station by 2010

The Hubble shows you much they don't care about education. The telescope has been and will be an invaluable tool to astronomers and scientists, but now it's too risky? Not nearly as risky as going to Mars.

All is not lost yet. They could still get contact from Spirit. Well, ok, not likely. We'll see if they have better success with Opportunity or not.

With Bush putting an emphasis on moon missions I'd assume NASA may get some better resources for their missions now instead of little robots. The robots don't seem to be all that reliable afterall. If one thing goes wrong that's it apparently.